Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (2000)

I'm a huge fan of Dave Chappelle so of course I loved this HBO special.This stand up special was released right in between Dave's two most iconic comedies,Half Baked and Chappelle's Show,so he wasn't as big as he is now.First,the good,Dave covers a lot of topics,ranging from Sesame Street to the police.Dave's delivery and timing is perfect,his physical performance is good,and his vocals are amazing.As always(except maybe Half Baked),Chappelle makes great jokes about the differences between races and our cultures.Dave also feels like a real person,he laughs at his own jokes at times and even high fives audience members.He also has some political humor and jokes about the differences between men and women,some of it may feel outdated by today's standards,but this special did come out in 2000.Now,the bad,I loved this special,but it does have one flaw,it doesn't matter that much,but the second half feels a bit outdated and is nowhere near as laugh out loud funny as the first half.All in all,Killin' Them Softly is hilarious and still culturally relevant,but it slightly suffers from a kind of weak second half.

His delivery was excellent. His comedic timing was outstanding. What I really enjoyed about this comedy special was the manner in which the social commentary was mixed into the act. It wasn't limited to one specific topic or theme. He didn't just touched on a wide range of topics, he was able to combine these topics with other in a poignant, yet accessible manner: politics, relationships, race, poverty, crime, terrorism, darwinianism, economics etc. After watching this special, the material tends to with you, you are able to reflect back on it and say to yourself: "He is right, I would have never thought of it in that way". Many comedians seem to have a hook, they seem to rely on this hook to shape their act. Dave Chappelle just knows how to combine many elements to produce an interesting act. Dave Chappelle also has the ability, in my opinion, to build up to a climax in a extraordinary manner. I felt that started of slowing, kind of lulled into false sense of comedic direction, then totally shifted gears and changed direction at the same time. It wasn't just a random change of speed or direction. Be he did in a well-crafted manner. Like a really good song or movie. The ability to manage these transitions extremely well.

In addition to being famous for its hit movies, and engrossing original series, HBO is known for its fantastic comedy specials. Perhaps this is because the specials are allowed to exceed one hour, and are completely uncensored. Whatever the reason may be, HBO knows good comedy, and knows how to pick their performers. They often choose well-established comedians to perform. Because of this fact, I was shocked to learn that Dave Chapelle, a somewhat unknown for his comedy, was getting his own HBO special. Another shocking fact for me was that, when I actually saw the performance, I was blown away by how funny it was. After that, I was immediately a Dave Chapelle fan. This is without a doubt one of the greatest comedy specials that I have ever seen. It is up there with Dana Carvey's "Critics Choice", George Carlin's "Complaints and Grievances," Carlin's "You're All Diseased," Robin Williams "Live on Broadway," and a select few episodes of Comedy Central Presents on my all time favorite comedy specials. This hilarious special has a wide range of jokes, from commentary on the presidency, to a great bit about Sesame Street. It was this special that prompted me to give Chapelle show a chance in its first season. Much to my delight, the show was as good as "Killin' Them Softly," and had a similar style to the HBO special. I ABSOLUTELY recommend this special to anyone who likes Chapelle Show, and visa versa. It is comedy at its finest. A well deserved 10/10.

Dave Chappelle is a comedic genius, and anyone who has seen this HBO special will agree. He comments on everything from racism to the subtle differences between men and women in this hilarious stand-up routine. His line delivery, content, EVERYTHING is absolutely perfect, and I honest can say this is the funniest show/movie/stand-up session I have ever seen. Not only is he incredibly funny, but also intelligent, as he dabbles in a few situations in politics, scandals, and everything in between. Not only do I agree with this, but everyone who I know saw this agree with me, that this is without a doubt a milestone in comedy, period. Its gut-bustin, unrelenting, and just plain fun. Just one thing...make sure you see it with a group of people. This already comic gem will get even better. SEE IT ASAP!!!